Lazy Days At The Farm On Muddypuddle Lane (The Farm on Muddypuddle Lane #7)

CHAPTER NINE

It was amazing how quickly one could get used to something, Carla thought as she stepped out of the house on Hazel Road and locked the door. In the two weeks since she’d moved into the house in Picklewick, she had become very used to it indeed, and she’d even begun to feel as though she’d lived there forever.

Slipping the keys into her bag, she walked swiftly down the road, her heels tapping on the pavement. The noise made her frown, and her feet didn’t appreciate the unaccustomed court shoes either. They weren’t used to wearing them. They were more used to being encased in trainers these days.

As she made her way to the bus stop, Carla tugged self-consciously at the hem of her newly acquired jacket. She also wasn’t used to wearing office-type attire, having become accustomed to jeans, tee shirts and hoodies. They were the only items of clothing she had brought with her when she’d fled Birmingham for the farm on Muddypuddle Lane over a month ago – apart from two dresses in case she went somewhere nice (like Otto’s restaurant, for instance) and a pair of shorts should the weather be nice enough to warrant getting her legs out. So in order to attend an interview with the temp service in Thornbury, she’d had to scour the rails of Picklewick’s charity shop for something suitable to wear.

She had also become very used to living in Picklewick. However, it wasn’t the ideal place to set down new roots. The village was too quiet, and despite not wanting to live in a city again, she would like somewhere a little livelier. Besides, rental properties in Picklewick were more expensive than those in Thornbury. She knew this, because she’d checked.

Carla hadn’t mentioned any of this to Ashton, and Dulcie thought Carla was mad not to tell him, but Carla’s reasons were valid. She didn’t want their relationship and the fact that she had fallen for him, to colour her decision – because she wasn’t doing this for him, or for them . She was doing it for herself.

Anyway, all this was purely speculative, a plan in place in case the meeting with HR didn’t go in her favour. Charlie, her union rep, would be attending it with her, and he seemed to think the outcome was cut and dried. Carla had forwarded copies of the contents of Anita’s folder to him, and he had almost crowed with glee, declaring that the ‘other party’ (which was how he referred to Yale) wouldn’t know what had hit him.

Carla wished she had Charlie’s level of confidence. Quietly optimistic was as far as she would go.

Arriving at the bus stop, she joined the queue of people standing in the bus shelter and attempted to prepare herself for her interview. The temp agency had called it an ‘informal chat,’ but she knew it was more than that. She had to look the part, sound the part, and play the part if she wanted to be considered for the more lucrative placements.

But try as she might, her mind kept drifting to Ashton and she wondered whether he was in Picklewick at this very moment on his rounds.

She caught a glimpse of a red van, and her heart gave a lurch before settling back into its normal rhythm when she realised it wasn’t a Royal Mail one. She couldn’t wait to see Ashton later, and she tingled at the thought. Since that fateful evening when they had made love for the first time, they’d hardly been able to keep their hands off each other, and Carla was most definitely in lust. The man was freakin’ gorgeous, and he knew what to do with a woman between the sheets. And on the couch. And on the carpet once, but it had made the skin on her back sore so she wouldn’t be doing that again in a hurry.

In case he was in the village, she shrank back and hid behind an elderly couple and their pull-along shopping trolley, and only when she was on the bus, did some of her tension evaporate.

Staring out of the window, she told herself to focus. She would have plenty of time to think about Ashton on the return journey. She needed to stop daydreaming and concentrate on what she was in Thornbury to achieve. And whilst she was there, there was no harm in checking out what was available to rent.

‘Got everything?’ Ashton asked. He glanced at the suitcase by the bedroom door.

Carla scanned the room. ‘I think so.’

He noticed she’d put fresh linen on the bed and he knew she wanted to leave Beth’s rented house clean and tidy, but to him it felt like she was erasing every trace of herself, as though this was a hotel room and she was done with it. Done with them.

Yesterday had been bitter-sweet. They had spent her last day on the hill above the farm, taking photos, and when they’d spotted the stoat again, it had felt symbolic, her time in Picklewick bracketed by sightings of the little animal.

Last night he had held her until she’d drifted off to sleep. Unable to sleep himself, he’d lain beside her, listening to her soft breathing and trying not to think how lonely he would be without her.

Watching her pack this morning had been hard, so he’d sat in the garden with an untouched mug of coffee and waited until it was time to take her to the station.

With a heavy tread, Ashton carried her case out to the car while she did a final check, before locking up and posting the key through the letterbox. His heart squeezed painfully – far too soon they would be at the station, and he might never see her again.

She was subdued on the short journey to Thornbury, and he guessed she might be worried about her meeting tomorrow. She had tried to put it behind her for the most part over the past week or so, but he’d sensed it had been playing on her mind. He knew it would have played on his, if he had been in her position.

God, he would miss her.

Would she miss him?

In a way, he hoped not, because he didn’t want Carla to experience the loneliness that he knew would be his lot after she was gone. He cared for her too much to think of her hurting.

Easing the car into a space in the station’s car park, he switched the engine off and got out. ‘Do you want me to wait with you until the train arrives?’ he asked.

‘Ashton.…’ Her expression was unreadable. She shook her head.

He sighed and opened his arms. Carla stepped into them, and he held her close for as long as he could, her head on his chest, his nose in her hair as he breathed in her scent.

Eventually, she pulled away to stare into his eyes, and he cupped her face with his hands.

‘It’ll be okay,’ he said.

Then he kissed her one last time.

He hadn’t fought for her. That was the only thing Carla could think of as she boarded the train. Ashton had let her go, had accepted that their relationship was over without so much as a murmur.

It hurt. A lot.

Did it alter her plans to return to Picklewick? Possibly.

The interview with the temp agency the other day had gone well, despite her honesty regarding the uncertainty around her current employment. Beth had told her that she could stay in the house in Picklewick until she sorted out more permanent accommodation in Thornbury, and her mum had insisted on gifting Carla her car, so she had everything lined up. All she had to do was make the decision.

She had tried so hard not to let it hinge on Ashton, but how could it not since she was in love with him? Ah, yes, the woman who had arrived in Muddypuddle Lane determined not to get entangled in another relationship, had well and truly lost her heart.

The journey to Birmingham seemed interminable, but eventually she trundled her case into the hall, the sound of her footsteps in the empty house echoing the emptiness inside her.

Can I come over? I need to see you .

Ashton read the message for a second time. Why did Lacey need to see him? What could they possibly have to talk about? He hadn’t had any contact with her since she’d told him they were over, apart from seeing her in the Tex-Mex restaurant a couple of weeks ago, so why did she suddenly need to see him now?

His blood ran cold as a possible reason leapt into his mind. Could she be pregnant?

Ashton closed his eyes and breathed deeply, willing away the panic.

He would have been over the moon if she had told him this three months ago, but they weren’t together any longer and the thought of being a single dad and estranged from his baby’s mother, filled him with dread.

When? His response was terse.

Today?

I’m at home

20 mins ok?

It wasn’t okay, but he had to know why Lacey wanted to see him.

Ashton snorted in derision. Be careful what you wish for, he thought. He had been scared of being lonely now that Carla had gone, but if Lacey was carrying his child, very soon he wouldn’t have time to feel lonely.

What a bloody mess.

He went in search of something alcoholic, guessing they both might need some fortification, before remembering that pregnant women probably shouldn’t drink.

He tried to recall what Lacey had been drinking in the restaurant, but all he could see was the look on her face. Had she known then that she was pregnant? If so, it would explain her odd expression.

When the doorbell rang, he flinched. Here goes, he thought, steeling himself. If she was indeed pregnant, he wanted to be part of his child’s life and was fully prepared to fight for that.

Lacey was standing on the step, looking as lovely as always. A little tired perhaps, but if his suspicion was correct, it was to be expected.

‘Can I come in?’ she asked.

‘Sure.’ He held the door open, her familiar perfume wafting over him as she stepped inside. She appeared nervous, and he didn’t blame her. He would be nervous, too.

Hell, he was nervous.

‘Tea?’ he asked.

‘Can I have a glass of water?’

‘Of course.’ He poured one for her and one for himself, despite preferring something stronger, then sat down and gestured for her to sit.

She perched on the end of the sofa. ‘I’ve, um… I don’t know how to say this.’

Ashton waited.

‘I think I’ve made a mistake.’

‘You think… What? ’

‘Okay, I know I’ve made a mistake. I should never have broken up with you. I wasn’t thinking straight.’

‘Pardon?’ He was struggling to get his head around what she was saying.

‘I still love you, Ashton.’

‘What?’ he repeated incredulously. This wasn’t what he’d expected her to say.

‘Can we try again?’

‘Me and you?’

She nodded, her head bowed.

‘You want us to try again?’ He couldn’t believe he was hearing this.

‘Yes.’ Her voice was small.

‘Why? You think I’m boring.’

‘No, I don’t. Honestly, I don’t. I shouldn’t have said it. I didn’t mean it. Please Ash, I’ve made a terrible mistake. I’ve been so lonely without you, and I miss you so much. Please give us another chance. Please .’

Ashton closed his eyes. Not too long ago he would have given everything he had to hear those very words, but now there was Carla… Carla, who had walked out of his life, leaving a gaping hole of loss and loneliness.

‘I saw you, Ash.’ Lacey broke into his anguished thoughts. ‘Outside the station earlier with that woman. You looked so sad. Do you love her? Am I too late?’

He did love her. With a stab to the chest, he finally admitted that he had fallen head over heels in love with Carla.

But Carla was no longer here. Lacey was, and he still cared for her.

Was it enough?

Carla was conscious that she didn’t look her best for this meeting. She was wearing a suit and heels, but there were shadows under her eyes and her face was pale.

Nervously, her heart in her mouth, she entered the building and made for the lifts, hoping no one would see her as she slunk inside. And by ‘no one’, she meant Yale. He wouldn’t be at this meeting, but he would probably be in his office, and she dreaded bumping into him.

It wasn’t like a court of law, where the accuser and the accused would be in the same room. This was a disciplinary hearing, after which HR would make its decision as to her future with the company. She would have the right to appeal, and take it to an independent tribunal, but if this meeting didn’t go in her favour, she didn’t think she had the will to fight. Just like Anita Campbell, she would meekly accept her fate and walk away.

Her union rep was waiting for her, and they were shown into a small office for a private discussion before she was called. Although she’d met with Charlie online, she hadn’t met him in person, and he looked younger in the flesh. He also looked confident. She wished she felt the same.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

Carla nodded. She felt sick and shaky, and her mouth was dry. She just wanted to get this over with.

The door opened.

‘If you’d like to follow me,’ a woman said. Carla recognised her as Mrs Bissett’s assistant.

Three people sat around a large table, laptops open, pads and pens at the ready. Carla and Charlie took a seat, Carla barely listening to the preliminaries of why the meeting had been called.

Mrs Bissett had just launched into a spiel about the seriousness of the allegation against her, when Charlie interrupted. ‘Can I stop you there?’

Mrs Bissett raised an eyebrow as he pushed a folder across the desk.

‘You might want to take a look at this before you go any further,’ he said. He got to his feet. Carla did the same. ‘You’ll need some time to peruse the contents, so we’ll wait outside.’

To Carla, the wait was torture. However, the outcome of the meeting wasn’t.

Ashton, Anita and Charlie had been right – Yale hadn’t had a leg to stand on.

‘That’s wonderful news!’

Everyone Carla had spoken to – her mother, Vicky, Dulcie, Anita – had all said the same thing when she’d phoned them as soon as she’d got home. They were thrilled she had been reinstated, that the dark cloud hanging over her had been lifted, that her job was safe, and she would be returning to her desk tomorrow.

Or would she?

She hadn’t decided what she was going to do. She knew what she wanted to do, but that wasn’t the same as doing it.

Carla’s hand hovered over the phone. There was one person who she had yet to call.

Ashton.

She checked the time. Ten minutes past one. He would still be doing his rounds. He might be in his van, driving. In fact, he probably was, so rather than phone, she would send him a message. It was safer. He could read it at his convenience.

God, that sounded so formal, and formal was the last thing she wanted.

She picked the phone up, then put it down again.

Was it too early for wine? A celebratory glass? This didn’t feel like a celebration, though.

It felt flat. Meaningless. A hollow victory. And it was that realisation which was the deciding factor.

The phone was in her hand again – it was time to make another call.

Post redirected? Tick.

Fridge emptied? Tick.

Windows locked? Tick.

Everything turned off? Tick .

Carla had a final scout around the house, hoping she hadn’t forgotten anything. The past couple of hours had been a blur of frenetic activity, but once she’d made the decision there seemed little point in putting it off until tomorrow. By tonight she would be in Picklewick, and her new life could begin.

It felt strange to leave the house she’d lived in since she was a child, the house she would always refer to as home. For the time being, she was moving into Beth’s rented house in the village until she found somewhere suitable in Thornbury. Living in the small market town was the perfect compromise. It wasn’t as big as a city, yet neither was it too rural. And after speaking to the temp agency earlier, she already had a job lined up for Monday.

Carla wandered through every room, drinking each one in, before scolding herself for being silly. It wasn’t as though she would never see this place again. As soon as her mum was back from the Caribbean, Carla would pay her a visit.

Locking up, she hurried to the car, now eager to be on her way. A new life beckoned, and she couldn’t wait for it to begin. Whether Ashton would be in it remained to be seen.

She hoped with all her heart that he would .

It was late. Late for Ashton, but not late for most people. He had work in the morning and should be in bed, but unfortunately, he couldn’t settle. Thoughts and images whirled through his mind, spinning like a merry-go-round. Except there was nothing merry about them.

He had been glad to see the back of yesterday (saying goodbye to Carla at the train station had been so hard), but today hadn’t proved to be any better. He had waited in vain for a call from her, even if it was just to tell him the outcome of her meeting. However, his phone had remained silent: no call, no message.

Her lack of contact convinced him it was over. She was back in her old life, her time in Picklewick now nothing but a memory. And that hurt. He’d thought they had something special, but he’d clearly been kidding himself. And despite vowing not to let anyone else into his heart, he had fallen in love. The pain he’d felt when Lacey had dumped him was nothing compared to the heartache he felt now.

Wryly, he supposed he should be thankful to Carla for showing him what love truly was. He supposed he should also be thankful to Lacey for turning down his marriage proposal. If she hadn’t, he would have spent his life not knowing how love really felt.

It was both beautiful and awful.

Right now, awful was winning hands down.

His mobile beeped, and he hoped it wasn’t Lacey. She hadn’t taken his rejection well yesterday, and her tears had tugged on his heartstrings, but he’d held firm. It wouldn’t be fair on either of them if he settled for second best.

Ashton looked at his phone, and his heart lurched violently.

Carla. Finally.

Are you awake? she messaged.

Yes

He waited for a call, or even a reply. And he waited, and waited.

The ring of his doorbell made him jump. Who could this be at just gone nine on a Friday evening? It wouldn’t be his parents, because they knew better. Anyway, they were still touring Scotland in their camper van and would be away for a few more weeks yet.

He heaved his weary body out of the chair and went to answer it.

Carla was outside.

Ashton blinked, then squinted. It was her; he wasn’t imagining it. ‘I didn’t think you were coming back,’ he said.

‘I wasn’t sure, either. Yet here I am.’

‘How did the meeting go?’ He wanted to scoop her into his arms and kiss her until she begged him to stop, but he couldn’t move.

‘Can I come in? If it’s not too late?’

It would never be too late for Carla.

‘Of course.’ He stood aside for her to enter, then closed the door behind her.

She said, ‘I was going to leave it until tomorrow to see you, but I couldn’t wait.’ She hesitated and he got the impression that she didn’t intend to stay long.

The thought of her leaving when she’d only just got here, made his chest hurt.

‘I’ve had a formal apology from HR,’ she continued. ‘And Yale has been suspended.’

‘That’s brilliant news. I told you, didn’t I?’

‘You did.’

‘When do you start back?’

‘I don’t.’

Anger reared its head at the injustice of it. ‘They can’t do that!’

‘ They didn’t. I did. I resigned.’

‘You did what?’ He was flabbergasted. Ashton sank into the armchair he hadn’t long vacated. He didn’t think he could take any more surprises today.

‘That’s not all,’ she said. ‘I’m moving to Picklewick.’

‘For good?’ Dear lord, he needed a stiff drink.

‘Only until I find somewhere to rent in Thornbury.’

‘But, what— I don’t—’ He inhaled deeply. His heart was racing, and he felt a little lightheaded.

‘I’ve fallen in love with the place,’ she said. ‘Just like Dulcie. And just like Dulcie, I’ve fallen in love with a local chap. He’s a bit boring, talks about image sensors and apertures quite a lot, and he’s obsessed with taking photos—’

Ashton leapt to his feet and swept her into his arms, stopping her words with his mouth. Her lips parted, and she sank into his embrace with a whimper that sent him delirious with desire.

But before he whisked her off to bed and made love to her for the rest of the night, there was something he had to say.

‘I love you,’ he murmured gently.

Carla was more forthright. ‘I bloody hope so! Now shut up and kiss me.’

And because Ashton was a thoroughly nice guy and he didn’t like to disappoint a lady, he did just that!

Carla had never before reached the ‘meet the parents’ stage in a relationship, mainly because she’d never felt invested enough.

She was invested now alright, and she couldn’t wait to meet Ashton’s. They were away, but his grandmother lived in Picklewick’s care home and that’s where they were headed right now.

Her name was Nancy and Carla hoped they would get along.

An old lady with pink hair was seated in a wingback chair next to a large picture window with a view of the mountain above Muddypuddle Lane. Her lined face creased into a beautiful smile when she saw Ashton, and he bent to kiss her on the cheek.

She brushed him away, as eyes the same hue as Ashton’s settled on Carla.

Carla squirmed under her scrutiny. ‘Hi.’

‘Come closer, let me look at you. So, you’re the young lady who has stolen my grandson’s heart. I hope you don’t break it.’

Carla could feel Ashton’s anxious gaze on her, but she didn’t flinch. Nancy’s directness was refreshing. ‘I won’t.’

‘How do I know that?’

‘Because he has mine.’

‘Good answer.’ Nancy patted the arm of the chair next to hers. ‘Sit here. I want to know all about you. Ashton, fetch tea. I take it, you drink tea?’

‘Of course,’ Carla replied.

‘Do you eat biscuits?’

‘Loads of them.’

‘What’s your favourite?’

‘Gosh, now you’re asking. Something with chocolate on, I think.’

Nancy said, ‘Ashton, bring a plate of biscuits while you’re at it. This could take a while.’

The two women watched him leave, both of them with love in their eyes.

Then Nancy turned her attention back to Carla. ‘He’s such a nice boy. They don’t make many like that these days. You want to keep hold of him.’

Carla leant towards the old lady and put her hand on Nancy’s age-spotted one. ‘Don’t worry, I intend to.’

And she meant it!

Are you ready for the next instalment from Muddypuddle Lane?

If so, find out what happens in Winter Wishes at the Farm on Muddypuddle Lane .